First Ever Situation

[Mike_D.]

Shot a deer this evening with my muzzleloader. Perfect broadside shot, 75-80 yards. Held right on the shoulder. When I shot the deer fell, struggled to get up, fell again then disappeared over the horizon. Deer wasn't laying there when I went to look for it. Only found a couple drops of blood but the odd part is where I shot the deer I found part of the bullet. Shooting 240 gr hollow points and what I found weighs 82 gr. Also appears to be some bone on the part of the slug I found, but zero blood on the slug. Seems odd to find part of the slug at the spot the deer was standing and finding very little blood for the first 20 yards then not finding another drop of blood after that. My guess is I hit the thickest hardest part of the shoulder bone, deflecting slug causing it to fall to the ground where I found it and knocked the deer down and took it a second to gets it's feet back under it and now it has a heck of a sore shoulder. Any other thoughts?

 

[cbhunter]

Strange for sure

 

[preachermantom]

No idea! Only the Lord knows. Will bother you for several days if you like me! Hate it went that way for you.

 

[PickettSFHunter]

Well that's a first for me to hear of too!

 

[Mike_D.]

Definitely going to bother me! Also absolutely HATE thinking I wounded one or possibly won't find one I killed. I know it's part of it and it's happened to me before, but doesn't make it any better. I'll give it my best in the morning with some daylight to see what else I can find.

 

[knightrider]

Leg shot?

 

[younggun308]

Lack of blood trail is why I gave up on shoulder shots awhile ago.
Great when they're DRT, but profoundly suboptimal when they run.

 

[Mike_D.]

Leg shot?

That crossed my mind for sure. I am also thinking leg shot, hence the reason it struggled to get up. Just seemed odd to find the slug, I would have thought a leg shot would have passed through the leg bone unless it was upper leg into the shoulder. But, yes, leg shot is the only other thing I can think of.

 

[knightrider]

That crossed my mind for sure. I am also thinking leg shot, hence the reason it struggled to get up. Just seemed odd to find the slug, I would have thought a leg shot would have passed through the leg bone unless it was upper leg into the shoulder. But, yes, leg shot is the only other thing I can think of.

Upper leg could very well destry your muzzy bullet, that would also explain no blood after a nock down

 

[Gravey]

Never seen or heard that before. Good eye to even see that.

 

[Savage]

Do you think you shot through a tree and mushroomed the bullet before it hit the deer?

 

[Mike_D.]

No, wide open shot with zero brush. I was even on shooting sticks and good and stable when I shot. Good point though, I could see a situation like that if there had been brush, but not the case in the scenario.

 

[megalomaniac]

Had the same thing happen 30 years ago with a patched round ball.

Shot the buck, he collapsed, laid still for 15 sec, then got up limping off. Reloaded a Buffalo bullet, jumped him in a thicket, and finished him off.

Found the patched ball flattened against the spine of the scapula, never even penetrated into the chest.

MLs can do screwy stuff sometimes.

 

[Dumbluck]

I've had similar situations happen twice actually. Both instances I hit the shoulder blade, my slug deflected straight down. One barely missed the deers heart and came out his brisket. The other deflected down and to the front of the deers chest. I ended up putting both bucks down toward the end of the season. One had completely lost his antlers way early, the other lost his antlers after shooting him the final time. Both bucks were upper 140-150 8pts to make it worse. It broke the shoulder on both deer. I was on the ground for both bucks eye level with them at about 50 yards for both.

I hope your scenario turns out better but it sounds exactly like my experiences. This is just one of the many reasons I refuse to hunt with a muzzleloader anymore.

 

[Deer Assassin]

What bullet ?
240 hp made by who ?

 

[Mike_D.]

What bullet ?
240 hp made by who ?

Hornady XTP

 

[Mike_D.]

I've had similar situations happen twice actually. Both instances I hit the shoulder blade, my slug deflected straight down. One barely missed the deers heart and came out his brisket. The other deflected down and to the front of the deers chest. I ended up putting both bucks down toward the end of the season. One had completely lost his antlers way early, the other lost his antlers after shooting him the final time. Both bucks were upper 140-150 8pts to make it worse. It broke the shoulder on both deer. I was on the ground for both bucks eye level with them at about 50 yards for both.

I hope your scenario turns out better but it sounds exactly like my experiences. This is just one of the many reasons I refuse to hunt with a muzzleloader anymore.

Crazy thing is I was sitting on the ground as well! Sounds like I've had the same scenario as you, I am hoping to see the deer again, if anything just to get some closure on the situation.

 

[TNTreeman]

Best of luck to you tomorrow . Hope you find it

 

[Deer Assassin]

Hornady XTP

I am far from an expert

I will say this

Weird things happen sometimes

Fact

Most bullet failure complaints are derived from bad shot placement. This is a general statement
I am guilty for sure

I like the leg theory but firmly believe the bullet would not be found or fragments there of

Just Weird for sure

Hate it for ya hope u find it

 

[Snake]

Lack of blood trail is why I gave up on shoulder shots awhile ago.
Great when they're DRT, but profoundly suboptimal when they run.

This ^^^^ if I shoot one in the shoulder it was a mistake ! Lost a couple good bucks with shoulder shots . No telling what the bullet will do if you hit bone . Hate it for you brother .